The World of Château Bouffémont: Rustic Fig Loaf Edition

Introducing a new digital newsletter to keep you up to date with everything happening at Château Bouffémont – including recipes, interviews and activities in the local area

 

Here at the Château Bouffémont, a love for people lies at the very heart of what we do – from organising an endless array of activities, to throwing an unbeatable party. It is our tightknit clan of staff, suppliers and guests that make this venue such a unique and special place.

 

To say thank you for being an important part of the Château family, we want to keep you in the loop with a new series of articles. These will let you know what is going on with us – expect interviews with team members and local personalities, recommendations for daytrips and activities in the surrounding Val-d’Oise area, and gastronomic guides to our favourite producers in the region. We will alternate between Q&As, recipes-of-the-month and informative articles to regularly provide a little slice of Château magic, sent straight to your inbox.

 

We are kicking off a new gastronomy series with this recipe from Paris-based chef Arthur Girard, who talked us through the steps needed to create his rustic salted loaf with figs and rosemary. Comfortingly warm and richly packed with flavour, this beautiful bread is destined to be a hit at brunches, picnics and get-togethers. The light tang of buttermilk combines with aromatic rosemary and juicy, jewel-like figs, finished with a sprinkling of salt to savour. A loaf for all seasons and occasions, this is the first of many delicious Château recipes to come.

 

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Inspiration for your wedding this Christmas season

Inspiration for your wedding this Christmas season

 

Winter weddings have long been associated with a certain magic – after all, they take place at a time of year that is already pretty special given the ongoing Christmas celebrations. However, it’s also true that every little touch or adjustment can help so much to make an already heart-warming and inspiring occasion even more so.

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How to organise a seminar at Château Bouffémont in France

how to organise a seminar

The term ‘seminar’ is a broad one – the Cambridge Dictionary, for instance, simply defines it as “an occasion when a teacher or expert and a group of people meet to study and discuss something”.

This means that if you are reading this article with a view to booking an elegant and luxurious venue for your own working-day, your requirements may greatly differ from even many other individuals, groups, institutions or businesses.

Nonetheless, the following are the most important broad steps that you can take to organise a seminar at the enchanting stone-built residence that is Château Bouffémont, and even more crucially than that, ensure that it is a success.

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Wedding a la francaise?

marriage chateau

For so many couples, it is a lifelong and heartfelt dream to get married in France. This may be due to an enduring love of French culture, or perhaps a family or ancestral connection to the country. Alternatively, you may simply be looking to tie the knot abroad and have considered France due to its strong associations with all things romance.

However, there is much more to the organisation of a French wedding than simply finding the prettiest and most enchanting backdrop on which to confirm one’s union. Here are some of the other factors that demand consideration.

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Why a French Chateau Provides Both a Beautiful and Practical Place to Tie the Knot

chateau

Romance. The word itself provokes intense feelings and thoughts, good and bad because it is such a crucial concept for the human soul. So many of the world’s greatest achievements in art, literature, music and sculpture have been created because of it. Many of them had significant movements ordained under their name – the romanticists or the romantic style.

It resonates because of the strength of its connotations. When we start to think about the ingredients of a perfect setting for the ultimate romantic occasion – a wedding – then we are led inexorably to one place. France.

Hugo, Rousseau, Delacroix, Rostand, Courbet and Gautier. So many of the names associated with romance are French. Even the word Romance is French. It is not surprising that so many world luminaries flocked to France in the hope that its romantic essence would rub off on them. Hemmingway, Fitzgerald and Grace Kelly became part of the tapestry that stretches throughout time enticing modern lovers to have their marriage ceremony in France.

The epitome of French wedding ceremony must be a chateau. Their design, history and surroundings all provide unique mystique and inspire the heart and mind of any fiancé and fiancée.

Unlike functional British châteaux and fortifications, French chateaus were designed as places for families to live and entertain their guests. Chateau Bouffemont, just to the north of Paris is an excellent example.

The preponderance of windows and lights testify that the views are of paramount importance both inside and out. Even on rare overcast days, the chateau itself is always a beautiful and noteworthy backdrop to any activity with its 5-hectare estate.

France is also rightly renowned for gastronomic excellence and the food at a chateau wedding could rightly grace any romantic novel or fairy tale. Staff will have long-standing contacts and friendships with the local food and drink suppliers to ensure the best and freshest food in season will be served for the couple and their honoured guests and the perfect wine and champagne to accompany the occasion will be served naturally.  

Weather and external conditions cannot be guaranteed but an estate such as Chateau Bouffemont has four floors of salons, terraces, suites and rooms to accommodate indoor or outdoor ceremonies with a minimum of fuss. Regardless of your own preference, they will readily be able to accommodate your wishes.

A French wedding also makes economic sense. The average UK wedding cost is now over £30,000 and it can rise above even this figure. A fairytale chateau wedding is within your budget for you and your guests to enjoy.

The cost would also cover expert services to make your day even easier and more memorable including the services of an expert wedding planner to look after the myriad of small details and decisions that can cause big worries if left unattended to. Experienced and helpful staff at the Chateau Bouffemont will also be able to look after the other details that will make a wedding more memorable such as the decoration, flowers, cake, music, photography, video and more. Even more unusual requests and services such as children’s entertainers can also be accommodated.

The age of Romance may have passed historically but its ideals and ideas live on and are personified in a wedding ceremony held at a French chateau. Honour your dreams and follow your hearts desire to France and its citadels of romance.

The Sought-After Special Offers Enable You to Get Even More Out of Your Stay With Us

Whether money is tight or flowing freely, everybody wants to get the most out of it. The most enjoyment, the most fun and the most wonderful experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

The unique idea that more and more people are sharing is to catch a flight or the Eurostar to a French Chateau near Paris and make the short trip to its delightful leafy green surroundings.

Chateau Bouffemont is a romantic idyll welcoming visitors from around the world since it’s construction in the 19th century by noted industrialist Edouard Empain. Set in stunning grounds taking up five hectares, the Chateau has a well-deserved reputation for its warm welcome and romantic charm.

One of the best ways to take full advantage of the Chateau’s breathtaking salons, suites and rooms is to consider one of their sought-after special offers. These exclusive and bespoke deals offer the best experiences available at reasonable competitive rates. Whether on vacation or celebrating a special occasion, there is a deal that’s just right for you.

A Baronial Vacation Retreat

The perfect chance to relax and unwind with close friends and family or live the life of one of one of the Barons of Empain at their traditional seat. The Baronial Vacation Retreat is based on six nights staying at the Chateau with several of the rooms occupied based on the number of accompanying guests.

Think of it. Your own private Chateau for a week. A full-board gourmet experience includes the exclusive use of the Chateau and its grounds for you and your guests.

These include the five grand halls, bar and games room; nine suites and rooms for accommodation and an additional separate guest kitchen accessible 24 hours a day during your vacation.

To complete the experience a dedicated full-service team is assigned during your stay including housekeeping, concierge, chef and of course, a private butler.

All meals – breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner – are served with the most appropriate paired wine and champagne is always available for adults on arrival; with special home-made cookies for children.

Alternatively, if a week is impractical or too long then you can also enjoy The Perfect Long Weekend at Chateau Bouffemont.

Whether it’s just the two of you away for a romantic break in the City of Lights or a family trip, take advantage of the same luxurious location and amenities.

The same rooms and suites and the same personal service of professionals including a private butler are at your disposal for the length of your weekend stay.

If you have made the excellent decision to get married at Chateau Bouffemont then you can take advantage of another incredible offer.

If you choose to Tie the Knot on a Weekday then you and your guests can enjoy the exclusive use of the chateau with nine suites and rooms available for accommodating up to 30 of them along with our excellent complimentary breakfast for all staying guests. There is a 20% reduction from the regular nightly rate and a late check-out for the day after the wedding of 4pm as we understand that it can take a longer time to say goodbye to your loved ones and get ready to set off on your honeymoon or journey home.

It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas and New Year and spending some of the Festive Season at Chateau Bouffemont. From December 1 2018 to January 10 2019, the Chateau becomes a winter wonderland with spectacular decorations and floral arrangements, roaring fires and cosy seats to settle down in on a winter’s night.

All the areas of the Chateau are available for exclusive use along with the personal service staff and additional 24-hour guest kitchen. For two nights, you can enjoy the perfect holiday season activities and amusements and relax in the most sumptuous of surroundings.

The first night features a festive five-course dinner with wine, following pre-dinner drinks and canapés followed by more drinks by the fireplace of the charming Salon du Baron.  The second day starts with a savoury brunch followed by a choice of winter activities such as horseback riding, a cycling trip around the village or a relaxing stroll in the park.

A three-course lunch follows with the best locally sourced ingredients followed by movies and games in the Dandy Lounge, a champagne afternoon tea and a four-course dinner with a Chef’s surprise.

However or whenever you choose to spend your time at the Chateau Bouffemont, you can be assured of the warmest welcome, the best food, the most peaceful surroundings and hopefully the happiest memories of your life.  

What Makes Château Bouffémont an Unforgettable Site for a Fashion Show?

 

 

 

The task of selecting the most befitting venue for your brand’s planned fashion show may seem a deeply unenviable one, on account of the wealth of factors and priorities that must be borne closely in mind. There are certainly not only one or two aspects that may guide your choice of venue for a high-profile fashion event.

We, therefore, decided to take a closer look at some of the reasons why your brand could stand to make the greatest impact by staging its next show at Château Bouffémont.

You are a stone’s throw from the world’s undoubted fashion epicentre

The world of fashion may have evolved considerably in recent years, with the traditional big-name fashion magazines and designers not dictating the tempo of every element of the industry in the way they once did, but some things don’t change over the centuries. One of those is the continued pre-eminence of Paris as the fashion capital to which everyone looks.

Even amid the inevitable, but also unpredictable shifts inherent to fashion, the City of Lights continues to wield considerable clout and hosts many of the world’s most eagerly watched catwalks. As explained by the Culture Trip website, for all of the competition and challenges of successive generations, Paris retains its status as the place to be seen for all things fashion.

Furthermore, by selecting Château Bouffémont in France as the site for your fashion show, you can be sure of the festivities being held a mere 30 kilometres from the centre of Paris, and 20 minutes from Charles de Gaulle Airport. That has to be conducive to luring many of the biggest hitters and most important customers in your corner of the fashion industry to attend your event.

Even by the standards of a chateau in France, Château Bouffémont utterly resplendent

If there is any reason why you may be averse to contemplating the hire of a French chateau for your next fashion event, it may simply be that it appears too obvious an option.

However, there are very sound justifications for the sustained evergreen appeal of such historic and idyllic venues as the Château. Château Bouffémont resoundingly redefines the term ‘impressive surroundings’ with its spectacular manicured French gardens to the exterior, as well as internal furnishings that speak of refined elegance for the most sophisticated clientele.

There can simply be no finer – and no more indelibly haute-couture – backdrop on which to host a prestigious fashion exhibition than the splendid halls and suites of the Chateau in France. That is not least the case as these spaces are also flexible enough to lend themselves to a kaleidoscope of inspiring and stimulating atmospheres within a single well-attended event.

The right venue will serve as an integral focal point for your show

One other serious factor to consider when on the lookout for a fashion event venue, is that the most suitable site will play a key role in setting the tone and narrative for the day or weekend’s festivities, effectively tying every element together into a coherent whole.

Château Bouffémont accomplishes this in part by appealing to the ardent fashionista’s well-honed visual and atmospheric sensibilities, providing a unique and luxurious setting for the shows of unique and luxurious brands.

However, the chateau in France also connects this requirement for romance and decadence to more practical considerations, such as the possibility for guests to spend the daytime hours marvelling at the presentations of your brand’s latest collections, followed by a delightful dinner party into the evening.

We are proud to declare that the noble, historic and perhaps surprisingly versatile property affords your brand the maximum opportunity to make the finest impression with its next fashion show – whether at a modest or magnificent scale.

So, why not enquire to our corporate events team today to learn more about our venue’s suitability to stage a truly magical fashion exhibition.